Meeting of the Board of Regents | June 2007

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	Full Board
FROM:	Johanna Duncan-Poitier
SUBJECT:	Renewal of Recognition of the Board of Regents as a Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency
DATE:	June 13, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Discussion

 

To update the Board of Regents on its petition to the U.S. Secretary of Education for renewal of recognition of the Regents and the Commissioner of Education as a national accrediting agency.

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

 

For information.

 

Proposed Handling

 

At its June 2007 meeting, the Board will receive a report on the status of its petition to the U.S. Secretary of Education for renewal of its recognition as a Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agency.

 

Procedural History

 

The New York State Board of Regents has been engaged in the evaluation of quality in higher education since 1787.  It has been recognized by the Secretary of Education as a national accrediting agency since 1952 and is the only state agency recognized by the Secretary for its institutional accrediting activities.   On October 2, 2002, the Board of Regents and the Commissioner of Education received recognition by the Secretary for a period of three years.  On November 8, 2004, the Secretary extended this recognition to October 2007.

 

On January 8, 2007, the Department submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Education seeking renewal of the Secretary’s recognition of the Board.  That application was reviewed by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) at its meeting on May 30-31, 2007.  

 

Background Information

 

•               The Board of Regents accredits degree-granting institutions that have designated it as their sole or primary accrediting agency for the purpose of establishing eligibility to participate in Title IV, HEA programs.  In this capacity, the Board of Regents currently accredits 22 institutions, all of which are located in the State of New York.
•  

On May 30, 2007, Associate Commissioner Joseph Frey and I led a team to present the Regents petition for renewal of recognition to NACIQI.  Also accompanying us was the Chairman of the Regents Advisory Council on Institutional Accreditation, President Russell Hotzler of the New York City College of Technology. Agreeing with the U.S. Department of Education staff recommendation, NACIQI voted unanimously to recommend renewal of recognition of the Regents and the Commissioner as a national accrediting agency for a period of five years.  This is the maximum term of recognition.  Copies of the USDE Staff Analysis, Agenda of the NACIQI meeting and a list of the NACIQI members are attached.

 

The final step in the renewal process is the approval of the Secretary of Education.  We are confident that the Secretary will accept the recommendation of the NACIQI.  

 

Recommendation

 

NA

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

If the Secretary accepts NACIQI’s recommendation, the Board will continue to serve as the institutional accreditor of the 22 institutions, and any other New York degree-granting institutions that seek its accreditation and meet its standards.  The Secretary’s recognition would expire in 2012 and the Department would need to submit a petition for renewal by the date specified by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.
Department of Education

 

Staff Report 

to
the

National Advisory Committee

on

Institutional Quality and Integrity

 

 

 

 

• Agency:  New York Board of Regents, and the Commissioner of Education   (1952/2002 ).

 

 

• Action Item:  Petition for renewal of recognition.

 

 

• Scope of Recognition:  The accreditation of those degree-granting institutions of higher education in New York that designate the agency as their sole or primary nationally recognized accrediting agency for purposes of establishing eligibility to participate in HEA programs.

 

 

• Requested Scope of Recognition:  Same as above.

 

 

• Date of Advisory Committee Meeting:  May 30 – 31, 2007.

 

 

• Staff Recommendation:  Renew the agency’s recognition for five years. 

 

 

• Issues or Problems:  None.

 

 

 

 

 

Part I:  General Information about the Agency

•  
• The New York State Board of Regents (NYBR) has been engaged in the evaluation of quality in higher education since 1787.  It is the State approval agency that authorizes the establishment of all educational institutions in the State.  That function also includes the responsibility to register all of the postsecondary programs offered in New York institutions offering degrees and certificates.  As the only state agency recognized by the Secretary for its institutional accrediting activities, in 2002 the agency restructured its institutional accrediting activities to clarify its role and responsibilities as an institutional accrediting agency.  The institutional accreditation activities now fall under the auspices of both the NYBR and the Commissioner of Education (Board of Regents).  The Board of Regents accredits degree-granting institutions that have designated it as their sole or primary accrediting agency for the purpose of establishing eligibility to participate in the Title IV, HEA programs.  In this capacity, the Board of Regents currently accredits 24 institutions, all of which are located in the State of New York.
•  

The New York State Education Department (SED), the administrative arm of the NYBR, carries out the accreditation activities of the Board of Regents.  The State Education Department (SED) performs its duties and responsibilities under the direction of the Commissioner of Education .  Within the SED, the Deputy Commissioner for Higher Education develops and implements the institutional accrediting activities. 

 

 

Recognition History

•  
• The New York Board of Regents appeared on the initial list of recognized agencies in 1952, and has received continuous recognition since that time. 
•  
• The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) last reviewed the agency’s petition for renewal of recognition at the Spring 2002 meeting.  Following that meeting, the Secretary granted the agency continued recognition for a period of three years and requested the agency to submit a progress report by December 2003 demonstrating the agency’s progress in assessing the adequacy of its standards.  The NACIQI reviewed that report at its Spring 2004 meeting, after which the Secretary accepted the report having found that the agency’s report responded satisfactorily to the earlier concerns.  The Secretary also extended the period of recognition for two years.
•  

 

Part II:  Summary of Findings

 

None.

     The dates provided include the date of initial listing as a recognized agency and the date of the agency’s last grant of recognition.

 

            The Commissioner of Education also serves as the President of the University of the State of New York and the Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Regents and the NYBR.

 

Attachment 1

Attachment 2